Anemone light question

BigReefing · 02/14/2006, 11:48 AM

With out antics do you need 14k or 20. I am buying bulbs today and just have clams and anemone. I will probly only ever have clams and anemone in this tank, atleast for the longevity of the new bulbs. What would be the healthest color to chose. I know that 6k-10 are best for clams, but I have both clams and anemone. I have clams on onesde and anemone on the other. Should I get one 10k and one 20. I just care what is best for them and not what looks best. Thanks for your time.

Amphiprion · 02/14/2006, 11:55 AM

If you already have actinics, why not go with 2 10K bulbs? Neither would really benefit from that much more blue anyway. As for the anemone, feeding is going to be just as important. 2-3 times a week is a good starting point.

Anemone · 02/14/2006, 12:03 PM

It's the intensity in the 420 nm range that's important for the symbiotic dinoflagelletes (zooxanthellae), and any MH bulb in that range should provide you with plenty of intensity (ie, anything in the 6-20K range would be fine for both clams and your anemone). However, if your bulbs are not MH, you'll need to try and get more "push" in the blue ranges, which means higher K bulbs.

Still, if you have enough wattage of non MH bulbs, even then anything the 6k-20K range would suffice. So, it will be appearance that is the next choice factor. Anything around 6K will be more yellow in MH (whiter in VHO and PCs). Your "safest" bet for both color and useable intensity in MH bulbs is in the 10-14K range. In PC and VHO, a mix of "white" and "blue" bulbs is best.

FWIW,
Kevin

BigReefing · 02/14/2006, 12:12 PM

good info I have 250 mh

02/14/2006, 11:48 AM	#1
BigReefing Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 454	Anemone light question With out antics do you need 14k or 20. I am buying bulbs today and just have clams and anemone. I will probly only ever have clams and anemone in this tank, atleast for the longevity of the new bulbs. What would be the healthest color to chose. I know that 6k-10 are best for clams, but I have both clams and anemone. I have clams on onesde and anemone on the other. Should I get one 10k and one 20. I just care what is best for them and not what looks best. Thanks for your time.

02/14/2006, 11:55 AM	#2
Amphiprion Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mobile, AL Posts: 6,611	If you already have actinics, why not go with 2 10K bulbs? Neither would really benefit from that much more blue anyway. As for the anemone, feeding is going to be just as important. 2-3 times a week is a good starting point. __________________ You've done it now, haven't you? Current Tank Info: 40g breeder patch reef w/ seagrass; 2-250w XM 10K; Vortech MP40wES & MP10wES; BM Curve 7 skimmer; carbon & occasional GFO

02/14/2006, 12:03 PM	#3
Anemone Cloning Around Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Valencia, California Posts: 25,267	It's the intensity in the 420 nm range that's important for the symbiotic dinoflagelletes (zooxanthellae), and any MH bulb in that range should provide you with plenty of intensity (ie, anything in the 6-20K range would be fine for both clams and your anemone). However, if your bulbs are not MH, you'll need to try and get more "push" in the blue ranges, which means higher K bulbs. Still, if you have enough wattage of non MH bulbs, even then anything the 6k-20K range would suffice. So, it will be appearance that is the next choice factor. Anything around 6K will be more yellow in MH (whiter in VHO and PCs). Your "safest" bet for both color and useable intensity in MH bulbs is in the 10-14K range. In PC and VHO, a mix of "white" and "blue" bulbs is best. FWIW, Kevin __________________ Back in the pool, swimming with the sharks... Current Tank Info: Red Sea 425XL w/Kessil AP700, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 x Vortech MP40s

02/14/2006, 12:12 PM	#4
BigReefing Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 454	good info I have 250 mh